His Best: The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection

Little Walter's huge wailing harp sound makes it easy to understand why people call the harmonica the "Mississippi Sax." This 20-song CD contains all of his biggest numbers, including Juke; My Babe; You're So Fine; Blues with a Feeling; Sad Hours; Mean Old World , and more from the harp-blowing blues master.

Marion "Little Walter" Jacobs is perhaps the most influential harmonica player on contemporary blues, and his collection is a great place to start. He was trained by Muddy Waters, but brought a more swinging feel to blues. Muddy and his band accompany Little Walter on many hits, as do Robert "Jr." Lockwood, the Aces, and other Chicago greats. In the 1950s, Little Walter's popularity eclipsed even Waters', his style a little more relaxed and pop-oriented. Walter's versions of many songs are the standards: "Blues with a Feeling," "You're So Fine," "Juke." Great stuff. --Robert Gordon